By Jenny Han.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lara Jean is enjoying an incredible senior year.
There's a lot on the horizon: a class trip to New York City, prom with her boyfriend Peter, Beach Week after graduation, and her dad's wedding to Ms. Rothschild. Soon after, she'll head off to college with Peter, at a school close enough for weekend visits home to bake chocolate chip cookies.
Everything seems perfect!
But then, Lara Jean receives some unexpected news...
I found Always and Forever, Lara Jean to be a delightful conclusion to the TATBILB series and a significant step up from the second book. This final instalment successfully navigates real-teen issues while keeping the charm and warmth that makes the series so enjoyable.
The highlight for me remains the family dynamics. The sibling relationships are beautifully portrayed, and the new conflicts within the close-knit family add depth to the story. Kitty's character development was particularly enjoyable as she grew into her person.
One of the standout elements of this book is its handling of college discussions. Many YA novels either set their stories before college becomes a concern or avoid the topic altogether in favour of more entertaining plot points.
Here, Lara Jean’s challenges in deciding between colleges, dealing with rejection, and balancing her life at home with her new life at college are depicted with realism and sensitivity. It’s one of the best portrayals of this transitional period in a teenager’s life that I've encountered in YA literature. Even though we don't have the exact equivalent of "college" in the UK, I can relate to the similar pressures of selecting a university.
I also appreciated that the relationship issues from the first two books were resolved, making way for more mature and realistic conflicts. The romantic aspects of the story felt more grounded and satisfying, with characters facing believable challenges and finding meaningful resolutions.
Even though the plot was somewhat predictable and lacked surprising twists, it didn’t diminish my enjoyment. Re-entering Lara Jean’s world was a pleasure, and I highly recommend this series to everyone. Additionally, the audiobook is a fantastic companion to the book, with the narrator on Audible delivering an excellent performance.
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